Scholarship & Service Programs

Academic Coaching to Thrive and Succeed

Academic Coaching to Thrive and Succeed (ACTS) provides free peer-to-peer tutoring to students in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement to help them achieve academic success and thrive at UW–Madison.

Visit the ACTS website to learn more. For general inquiries about their services or to contact our support staff, email acts@cdo.wisc.edu or call 608-890-2579.

Office of Affirmative Action Planning and Programming

The Office of Affirmative Action Planning and Programming (OAAPP) oversees UW–Madison’s strategies and compliance related to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. This includes developing and implementing UW–Madison’s Affirmative Action Plans and providing data-informed service to the university and schools, colleges, and divisions. OAAPP serves as a resource hub for workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion and supports institutional efforts in creating a welcoming and inclusive community.

Learn more by visiting the OAAPP webpage, emailing affirmativeaction@cdo.wisc.edu or calling 608-262-3256.

Center for Educational Opportunity

The Center for Educational Opportunity (CeO) provides services for students that are first generation, meet certain federal family income guidelines, and students with documented disabilities. CeO advisors and staff embrace a personal approach and provide support in every aspect of the student’s path to achievement and success.

Learn more at the Center for Educational Opportunity website; call 608-265-5106; or email the staff at ceo@cdo.wisc.edu. Students may also make an appointment through Starfish.

Employee Disability Resources

The Employee Disability Resources (EDR) office serves as the campuswide hub for information on the disability accommodation process for employees and applicants. We recognize that all UW–Madison applicants and employees with disabilities have a right to ask for a reasonable accommodation, and we advocate for a process to identify if one can be made. If you are experiencing difficulty in the hiring process, while performing duties of your job, or accessing an employment benefit, you can consider requesting an accommodation.

We offer essential information, consultation, education, and referral services to employees and applicants, Divisional Disability Representatives, and supervisors and managers to help minimize barriers in the workplace. We’re guided by our belief that disability is an important aspect of diversity, and we support full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment and participation at UW–Madison.

Visit the Employee Disability Resources website to learn more.

Learning Communities for Institutional Change & Excellence

Learning Communities for Institutional Change and Excellence (LCICE) provides a forum for active participation in dialogue focused on creating working, learning, and teaching environments where everyone is heard, valued and included. Through dialogue, one learns how to engage in transformative changes of behaviors, policies, and procedures that collectively impact the campus climate for all community members.

To learn more, visit the LCICE website; email the staff at lcice@cdo.wisc.edu; or call 608-263-2378.

McNair Scholars Program

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program supports eligible undergraduates in acquiring the knowledge, skills and capacities necessary to successfully navigate the rigors of Ph.D. studies through immersion in research and a variety of scholarly activities. Each year, highly qualified students are selected from a pool of eligible applicants. The goal  is to increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society.

Learn more at the McNair website; or contact the staff at mcnair@cdo.wisc.edu; 608-265-5228.

Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program

The Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program administers two of the university’s oldest and most prestigious undergraduate scholarships — the Chancellor’s and Powers-Knapp scholarships — which were established to attract, support and develop the abilities and potential of academically talented and outstanding individuals from underrepresented groups. Scholars benefit from individualized advising, a supportive peer network, leadership development, mentorship opportunities, and more. In addition to the structured support provided by the programs, scholars also receive a competitive financial award.

Learn more by visiting the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program website, emailing the staff at csp@provost.wisc.edu, or by calling 608-262-9315.

Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives / First Wave Learning Community

Administered by the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI), the First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts Learning Community is the first university program in the country centered on urban arts, spoken word and hip-hop culture. Their mission is to provide innovative, culturally relevant hip-hop art programs to inspire engagement, learning, and activism for diverse communities.

Learn more by visiting the OMAI website, emailing the staff at fwscholarship@cdo.wisc.edu or by calling 608-890-1006.

Posse Program

Posse identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes. As a partner university with the national nonprofit Posse Foundation, UW–Madison extends to these students the opportunity to pursue personal and academic excellence by placing them in supportive, diverse teams — Posses — of 10 students. Posse partner colleges and universities award Posse scholars four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships.

Learn more by visiting the Posse website, emailing the staff at posse@cdo.wisc.edu or by calling 608-890-4385.

Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence

The Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE) program recruits students in 8th grade and partners with students to help them reach their goals of college attainment and degree completion. PEOPLE consists of two programs: one specific to precollege students and one specific to college scholars at UW–Madison. PEOPLE differs from other pre-college programs by working with students, families, teachers and counselors to provide the sustained individual attention critical for being academically, psychologically and culturally prepared to succeed at the college academic level. Students who enroll at UW–Madison may be eligible for a four-year tuition scholarship.

Learn more at the PEOPLE website; or contact the staff at people@cdo.wisc.edu; 608-262-7415.

Office of Strategic Diversity Planning and Research

The Office of Strategic Diversity Planning and Research (OSDPR) is responsible for research, evaluation and assessment actions; leading quality improvement activities; and supporting internal and external reviews relating to diversity, equity and inclusion across the UW–Madison campus.

Learn more by visiting the OSDPR webpage or contact the staff at osdpr@cdo.wisc.edu.